IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of John Francis Cronin
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 13:53:02 -0500

History of Iowa County, Iowa...by James G. Dinwiddie. Volume 1. Chicago: S. J.
Clarke Pub. Co., 1915

John Francis Cronin, who has served as city solicitor, as mayor of Marengo
and as county attorney of Iowa county and is now engaged in the private practice
of law, is a native son of the city where he still resides, his birth occurring
on the 14th of January, 1884. His father, Patrick J. Cronin, was born in Bantry,
County Cork, Ireland, but his mother, who bore the maiden name of Anna Flanagan,
was born in Redbank, New Jersey.
John Francis Cronin received his elementary education in the public schools
and prepared for college in the Marengo high school, from which he was graduated
in June, 1903. Having decided upon the legal profession as a life work, he
entered the college of law of the State University of Iowa and in June, 1907,
received the degree of LL. B. on the completion of the required course. He was
popular among the students and was honored by the highest gift within the power
of his class to bestow, being elected its president. The first work in which Mr.
Cronin engaged was that of timekeeper and foreman of construction gangs for the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, but on the 1st of January, 1908, a few
months after his graduation, he opened a law office in Marengo and on the 1st of
April, of that year, was appointed city solicitor, which office he held for two
years, being elected mayor at the end of that time. For two years he served as
chief executive of the city and then entered the primary contest for the
nomination on the democratic ticket for county attorney. He won both the
nomination and the election and served ably and conscientiously for two years,
but in November, 1914, was defeated for reelection as the result of a campaign
against Catholics holding office. For three or four years he has been local
attorney of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railroads and has ably represented their interests in Iowa county. He has the
aggressiveness and courage of youth and has also benefited by the valuable
experience that he has had in the seven years that he has engaged in the
practice of law and he is an opponent worthy of the steel of the leading
attorneys of this district. He is not only well versed in the fundamental
principles of jurisprudence but is also familiar with statute law and precedent
and is rarely at fault in the application of his knowledge to the point at
issue. Although much of his time has been taken up with his official duties, he
has built up a large and lucrative practice and his integrity, combined with his
ability, has gained him the respect of his colleagues and of the general public.
Mr. Cronin is a democrat and served on the congressional committee of the
late Congressman I.S. Pepper in both of his campaigns for election to the
national house of representatives. Mr .Cronin is at all times ready to aid in
any way possible in securing victory for his party and is known as one of its
most loyal and ablest workers. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of
Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is that of
the Roman Catholic church, of which he is a communicant. His entire life has
been passed in Marengo and there is no better proof needed of his sterling worth
as a man and his ability as an attorney than the fact that he has succeeded
professionally and has also won the goodwill and esteem of his fellowmen in the
city where he was born and reared.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm

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